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Thursday, November 1, 2012

NHBPM Day 1: Why I Write

This month, I'm participating in WEGO Health's National Health Blog Post Month (#NHBPM). Which means I'm attempting to post every day during the month of November. I'm hoping their prompts will be just what I need to get myself out of a blogging rut.For more information or to sign up, see here.
Topic for Day 1: "Why I write about my health."

Why do I write about my health?

I write about my health for two reasons: to help myself and hopefully help other people.

When I first stumbled onto the Diabetes Online Community almost two years ago, I was completely and utterly lost. Burnout had me tight in its grip, and I felt so alone. I wasn't taking care of myself, and didn't know how to turn that around.

But then I started reading some blogs. Joined Twitter. And it completely changed my life. That's not an exaggeration. Reading other people's posts made me realize that I wasn't alone. That living with diabetes is difficult for everyone. That we all have our own struggles and triumphs.

Through the words and friendships of other people with diabetes, I was able to change. One step at a time. Today, I am in such a better place than I was two years ago. Not only with my diabetes, but with my mental health.

Again, my friends online inspired me to seek help for my binge eating. I don't think I would have had the courage to find a psychologist without reading stories from other people. Their stories took the shame and fear away.

I started writing this blog to help myself. This is a place where I can vent and share what's going on, and that helps me process things that are going on in my life. But that's not why I keep writing.

I keep writing in the hopes that I might be able to help someone else as I have been helped. That's why I share so much. Not only about my diabetes, but also about my binge eating, and feelings of depression and anxiety.

Do I overshare? Probably. But I wouldn't be where I am today without the stories of other people. No matter how we feel, we are never alone.